I have a 1992 Stealth ES (DOHC). For the past two years the cars surges or pogos when driving down the road at low speed.Also it is idling higher (around1400RPM) and is getting worse gas milage.It starts easily and excellerates well with only occ slight hesitation. Took it to Dodge and they replaced theignition cables and plugs....no better. Recently the check engine light came on for several seconds and the car ran very roughly. Then the light came on again and the engine died. It restarted later and the check engine light was not on. I checked the diagnostic port with a volt meter and it was normal ie no stored codes. The Mitsubishi dealer (The local Dodge dealer will no longer work on the car for me) thinks it is the ECM and after reading several of these forums I tend to agree. Any one else have any input to this problem Thanks much!

 

Unless you unhooked your battery prior to pulling the codes, it should have been stored. Were you getting a steady back and forth sweep of the needle?

 

yes, I got the steady back and forth of the needle and no I had not unhooked the battery....thus my problem. Thanks

 

Very odd. An easy check for the ECU is to just pull it and inspect the capacitors for leakage. They will cause all sorts of odd issues when the leak.

 

Since the check engine light doesn't stay on but is, instead, intermittent maybe that is why a code isn't stored. I drove the car yesterday and didn't have a problem other that the continuing and very annoying surging. Needless to say I have to get this resolved because now I am afraid to take the car out away from homefor fear of being stranded. I will pull the ecm.....and with my luck the capacitors will look pristine leaving me to wonder what to do next. Again thanks.

 

Look very close around the base of them for any black stuff...use a magnifying glass if needed...sometimes the stuff is very hard to see.

 

couldn't a vacuum leak cause surging? also check your maf(i think that's what they are) mine had a crack in the case leting water get in

 

I just pulled the ECM, opened it up and looked with a 10x magnifying glass and sure enough one of the capacitors has leaked a small amount...has kind of a fishy odor. Everything else on the board looks fine. Hard to believe such a small thing could have such a large impact!!!

 

Amazingly enough, it does.

Check out ECMTOGO.com, I've used them in the past and was very happy with there service.

 

Thanks. I hope this fixes the problem because the car is, in otherwise, pristine condition. Anything I need to do after I get the new ECM or just plug it in and go?